Notification 2022-047

Dear Madam/Sir, At its twenty-fourth meeting, the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) adopted recommendation 24/10 (https://www.cbd.int/doc/recommendations/sbstta-24/sbstta-24-rec-10-en.pdf) on “ecologically or biologically significant marine areas”. In this recommendation, SBSTTA noted that the work on this issue was not completed due to the extraordinary circumstances prevailing. In the same recommendation, SBSTTA requested the Executive Secretary, in advance of the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, and subject to the availability of financial resources, to facilitate consultations among Parties, other Governments and relevant stakeholders, including indigenous peoples and local communities, women and youth, with a view to advancing discussions on the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biodiversity. Pursuant to this request, I am pleased to announce the convening of an online discussion forum on ecologically or biologically significant marine areas, which will be preceded by an opening webinar and followed by a closing webinar, as follows: • Opening webinar: 14 September 2022, 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. EDT • Online discussion forum: 15-16 and 19-20 September 2022 • Closing webinar: 21 September 2022, 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. EDT In line with the request from SBSTTA, the online discussion forum is intended to provide an opportunity for discussions and sharing of views on the issues addressed in the annex of SBSTTA recommendation 24/10 to facilitate focused deliberations on these issues at part two of the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties. A concept note and background documents to support the discussions will be posted on the forum webpage in due course. The online discussion forum and the webinars will be held in English. Submission of nominations from Governments Parties and other Governments are invited to nominate one expert to participate in the online discussion forum. Nominations should be transmitted through an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary, signed by the national focal point, indicating the name and full contact details of the nominee, and including the curriculum vitae of the nominee. Submission of nominations from relevant organizations Relevant regional organizations and initiatives are invited to nominate one expert to participate in the online discussion forum. Nominations must include an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary, signed by the head of the organization, indicating the name and full contact details of the nominee, and including the curriculum vitae of the nominee. Participants will be selected, in consultation with the Bureau of SBSTTA, based on relevant expertise and experience relating to ecologically or biologically significant marine areas, taking into account regional representation and gender balance. All nominations must be received as soon as possible but no later than 24 August 2022 (scanned and attached to an e-mail addressed to secretariat@cbd.int). I thank you and look forward to your participation and contribution to the discussions. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points; Marine and Coastal Biodiversity Focal Points; SBSTTA Focal Points; indigenous peoples and local communities; and relevant organizations